Seal means for a compressed gas spraying device

ABSTRACT

A means of sealing a removable pump element to the air tank of a spraying device. An annular flexible seal is positioned around the opening into the tank. The pump element is inserted through the tank opening and includes an annular cap part which engages the seal. The tank includes a lip which overlies the marginal edge of the cap of the pump element. When the tank is placed under pressure by actuation of the pump element, the cap of the pump element is forced upwardly against the lip of the tank with the seal remaining in sealing engagement with the cap.

United States Patent [191 Collins 51 Jan. 9, 1973 [54] SEAL MEANS FOR A COMPRESSED GAS SPRAYING DEVICE [75] Inventor: Dean E. Collins, Lowell, Mich.

221 Filed: Aug. 31, 1970 21 Appl. No.: 68,421

[56] 1 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,091,372 5/1963 Tidd ..222/40l 2,180,664 11/1939 Brandt 3,135,431 6/1964 Matthewson ..239/373 X Brandt ..239/373 X Pinke ..222/340 Primary ExaminerRobert B. Reeves Assistant Examiner-Thomas E. Kocovsky Attorney-'Oltsch & Knoblock [57] ABSTRACT A means of sealing a removable pump element to the air tank of a spraying device. An annular flexible seal is positioned around the opening into the tank. The pump element is inserted through the tank opening and includes an annular cap part which engages the seal. The tank includes a lip which overlies the marginal edge of the cap of the pump element. When the tank is placed under pressure by actuation of the pump element, the cap of the pump element is forced upwardly against the lip of the tank with the seal remaining in sealing engagement with the cap.

7 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEU JAN 9 I975 SHEET 1 [1F 4 INVENTOR. DEA/V E COLL/NS BY ATTORNEiS PATENTEDJAN 9 1975 SHEET 2 BF 4 INVENTOR DEAN E. COL L/NS ATTORNEYS PATENTEDJAN 9197a 3.709.409

SHEET 3 [IF 4 INVENTOR. DEAN E. COLL/NS ATTORNEYS PATENTED-m ems 3.709409 SHEET 0F 4 INVENTOR. DEAN E. COLL INS gMw/a ATTURNEYS SEAL MEANS FOR A COMPRESSED GAS SPRAYING DEVICE SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a compressed gas, preferably air, sprayer and has particular application to a means for providing a seal between the air tank and removable pump element of the sprayer.

The sprayer of this invention includes an air tank having an upper wall with an opening therein. A removable pump element is carried by the upper wall of the air tank and includes portions which extend into the tank. The opening in the tank wall is defined by an annular edge portion with an annular lip part spacedly overlying the opening-defining edge portion. An annu lar flexible seal or gasket is carried by the openingdefining edge portion of the tank wall. The pump element includes a cap which is positioned over and engages the seal. As the air tank is pressurized by actuation of the pump element, the cap of the pump element and a part of the seal are forced upwardly with the seal remaining in sealing engagement with the cap and tank wall until the cap engages the lip part of the tank wall.

The pump element of this invention can be inserted into the air tank and positioned for pressurization of the tank with only a minimum of effort because, unlike in the prior art sprayer devices in which the pump ele ments are cammed into a rigid interlock with the air tanks prior to the actuation of the pump elements, there is no rigid. interlock between the pump element and the tank until the pump element is actuated and air is introduced into the tank. Once the spraying operation has been completed, the remaining compressed air, if any, within the tank may be bled through a bleedoff valve or through the sprayer nozzle so as to reduce the air pressure within the tank to that of atmospheric pressure and simultaneously therewith free the pump element from its locked engagement with the tank, thus enabling the user of the sprayer device to remove the pump element from the tank with only a minimum of effort.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a compressed air sprayer having a closure means which permits an opening and closing of the sprayer with only a minimum of effort.

It is another object of this invention to provide a sprayer having a tank and removable pump element wherein a sealing interlock between the pump element and the tank is effected upon actuation of the pump element to pressurize the tank.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a sprayer having a removable pump element which is utilized to pressurize the sprayer tank in a simple, convenient and safe manner.

Further objects of this invention will become apparent upon a reading of the inventions description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A preferred embodiment of this invention has-been chosen for purposes of illustration and description wherein:

FIG. I is a perspective view of a compressed air sprayer.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the pump element, tank and sealing element of the sprayer illustrated in FIG. 1 in separated form and in partial section.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the pump element and tank showing the pump elei DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The preferred embodiment illustrated is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. It is chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its application and practical use to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the sprayer therein illustrated includes a cylindrical tank 10 housing a side wall ll, :1 bottom wall 13, and a top wall 12. Top wall 12 has an opening 14 therein which is best seen in FIG. 2. Through opening 14 the tank can be filled with the spray solution. A pump 16 is carried by top wall 12 of tank 10 and includes a cylinder 18 which extends into tank 10 through opening 14, a handle 20 which has a rod 22 attached to it. Rod 22 extends longitudinally into cylinder 18 and has a piston or similar means attached to its lower end which upon reciprocation of the rod causes air to be drawn into the cylinder and expelled therefrom through suitable valve means well known in the art under pressure into tank 10. An annular cap 24 is secured to the upper end portion of cylinder 18 and extends laterally outwardly therefrom. Cap 24 carries a bracket 26 which extends over the upper end face 27 of the cylinder 18. Bracket 26 has an aperture 29 through which rod 22 of the pump extends with clearance. Bracket aperture 29 includes slotted parts 31 which receive with clearance diametrically opposed lugs 28 carried by handle 20.. A helical spring 30 surrounds rod 22 and is positioned between the end face 27 of cylinder 18 and bracket 26. Spring 30 is adapted to engage lugs 28 of rod 22 and be placed in compression as handle 20 is pushed downwardly and lugs 28 are positioned between bracket 26 and cylinder 18. With lugs 28 positioned between the bracket and cylinder, rod 22 is rotated by handle 20 to position the lugs out of alignment with the slotted parts 31 in bracket 26, thereby locking the pump handle 20 in its retracted position. Suitable stops or detent means carried by bracket 26 and engageable with lugs 28 prevent full rotation of rod 22 when the handle. is in its retracted position. To free the pump handle from its locked engagement with bracket 26 in order to actuate pump 16 and pressurize tank 10, the pump handle 20 is reversely rotated until lugs 28 thereof register with the slotted parts 31 within the bracket. Placed in communication with tank 10 is a flexible conduit 32. Conduit 32 has the free end thereof connected to a spray nozzle 34 which is actuated in conventional fashion by lever 36.

The spray solution under pressure within tank is forced into conduit 32 and out nozzle 34 upon activation of lever 36. Additionally, tank 10 may include bracket and ring parts 41 which are secured to side wall 11 thereof for the purpose of attaching a strap or similar means to the tank which enables the sprayer to be carried by the user. The sprayer thus far described is of a conventional construction to which no specific claim of inventiveness is directed.

This invention relates specifically to the closure and interlock means between pump 16 and tank 10. Top wall 12 of tank 10 includes an annular edge portion 40 which defines opening 14 therein. Wall 12 includes an annular vertical web 42 which is concentric with and spaced outwardly from opening 14. Web 42 terminates in an inturned annular flange 44 which spacedly overlies edge portion 40 and which preferably is inset relative to edge portion 40 from the edge of opening 14 so that the inner diameter of flange 44 is greater than the diameter of opening 14. Flange 44 is interrupted by a plurality of elongated circumferentially spaced slots 46. Slots 46 are preferably equi-angularly spaced and are at least two and preferably four in number. A bracket 48 is attached, such as by welding, to web 42 adjacent each slot 46 and includes an inturned lip 50 which is positioned spacedly over the adjacent slot.

An annular seal 52 is carried by wall 12 at the edge portion 40 of tank opening 14. Seal 52 is formed of a flexible shape-retaining material, such as rubber, and includes an annular retainer part 54 which is C-shaped in cross section which fits snugly over tank edge portion 40, as best shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, and an annular marginal flange part 60 which extends outwardly of retainer part 54 into opening 14.

Cap 24 of pump 16 includes a generally flat annular portion 62 which extends laterally outwardly from pump cylinder 18. A web 64 extends upwardly from the outer edge of cap portion 62 and terminates in an outwardly directed annular flange 66. The outer diameter of cap web 64 is preferably just slightly less than the inner diameter of retainer part 54 of seal 52. The outer diameter of cap flange 66 is preferably larger than the diameter of opening 14 but is less than the inner diameter of flange 44 of tank wall 12. A plurality of ears or tabs 68 project upwardly and outwardly from the outer edge of cap flange 66. Tabs 68 preferably are of the same number as slots 46 in tank wall 12 and are spaced apart the same angular distance as slots 46. In some constructions of this invention, tabs 68 may be fewer in number than slots 46. The width of tabs 68 is less than the width of slots 46. The height of each tab 68 as measured from the lower face 67 of cap flange 66 is slightly less than the spacing between retainer part 54 of seal 52 and flange 44 of tank wall 12. The distance between the outermost end edges 69 of opposite tabs 68 is slightly less than the inner diameter of tank web 42 but greater than the inner diameter of tank flange 44.

To utilize this described embodiment, the pump 16 can be grasped by handle 20, which is in its retracted position and locked to cap bracket 26, and inserted into opening 14 of tank 10 until cap tabs 68 contact inner edge 45 of flange 44 of tank 10. Handle and interlocked cap 24 are then rotated until tabs 68 of the cap pass beneath bracket lips 50 which are selectively spaced from tank wall 12. The pump is then lowered further into the tank until cap flange 66 engages and rests upon retainer part 54 of seal 52 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6. The height of cap web 64 is such that with cap flange 66 resting upon retainer part 54 of seal 52 cap portion 62 engages marginal part 60 of the seal and preferably causes seal part 60 to be flexed slightly downwardly so as to assure sealing contact with the seal about its marginal part. With the pump thus supported by top wall 12 of tank 10, handle 20 while in its locked relationship with cap 24 is rotated causing tabs 68 of the cap to slide under flange 44 of tank wall 12. A portion of flange 44 adjacent one of the slots 46 is preferably separated from web 42 and bent downwardly to form a tab stop 70. Stop 70 is contacted by one of the tabs 68 as handle 20 is rotated to position the tabs under flange 44 and is located so as to cause the tabs to be positioned approximately mid-way between adjacent slots 46.

Once cap tabs 68 are positioned under lips 44 of the tank, handle 20 of pump 16 is then slightly depressed causing further compression of helical spring 30 and rotated relative to cap 24 until lugs 28 thereof are brought into registery with slotted parts 31 in cap bracket 26. The handle is then pulled upwardly so as to enable the user of the spray device to activate the pump and to place the contents, which is preferably in liquid form, in tank 10 under pressure. During the initial stage of pump activation, escape of air from tank 10 is substantially prevented due to the sealing contact between portion 62 of cap 24 and marginal part 60 of seal 52. As the air within tank 10 begins to exceed atmospheric pressure, marginal part 60 of the seal is forced against the lower face of cap portion 62. Continued increase in air pressure within the tank causes an upward flexure of seal part 60 and a lifting of cap 24 and connected pump components until tabs 68 abut flange 44 of tank wall 12 as shown in FIG. 7 with an air-tight seal being maintained between seal 52 and cap 24 at all times. Rotation of cap 24 relative to tank 10 when the tank is fully pressurized is prevented due to the frictional engagement of tabs 68 and flange 44. Should, however, cap 24 be rotated relative to tank 10 by accident or for some other unexpected reason while the contents of the tank are under pressure and tabs 68 of the cap be brought into registery with slots 46 in tank wall 12, the pump assembly which includes cap 24 will be forced, by the air pressure, outwardly but prevented from immediate forceful separation from the tank due to contact of the tabs 68 with lips 50 of the tank attached bracket 48.

To quickly reduce the pressure within tank 10 to at mospheric pressure and thus allow the removal of cap 24 and pump 16 from the tank for filling or cleaning purposes, the tank may be provided with a bleed valve 38 which upon activation vents the tank to the atmosphere. As the pressure within tank 10 is reduced, cap 24 and associated pump components move by gravity from the position illustrated in FIG. 7 to the position illustrated in FIG. 6, thus causing the disengagement of tabs 68 from flange 44 of tank wall 12. The user of the sprayer now need only with minimal effort rotate handle 20 which is interlocked with cap 24 until tabs 68 register with slots 46 in flange 44. Cap 24 is then lifted by handle 20 until tabs 68 engage lips 50 of brackets 48 and is again rotated until the tabs clear lips 50 and the pump assembly can be separated from the tank 10.

It is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the details herein given, but that it may be modified within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a sprayer including a tank having an upper wall with an opening therein and a removable pump assembly carried by said tank wall and having parts extending downwardly through said opening into said tank, the improvement wherein said opening is defined by an edge portion, said tank wall including a flange spacedly overlying said opening edge portion, a flexible seal carried by said opening edge portion and including a generally annular marginal portion extending outwardly from said opening edge portion into said opening, said pump assembly including cap means for sealing said tank opening, said cap means having parts positioned between said opening edge portion and said tank flange and being rotatable relative to said tank into a first position spaced from said tank flange and in circumferential engagement with said seal when said tank is at atmospheric pressure, stop means preventing unlimited rotation of said cap means relative to said tank for locating said cap means in its said first position, said cap means having a second position abutting said tank flange in circumferential sealing engagement with said seal when said tank is pressurized, said cap means being shiftable from its first position into its second position upon actuation of said pump assembly parts to pressurize said tank, said tank flange being annular and interrupted by a plurality of openings, said cap means including an annular portion in circumferential engagement with said sealin both said first and second positions, the inner diameter of said tank flange exceeding the outer diameter of said cap means annular portion, said cap means parts constituting circumferentially spaced tab means extending outwardly of said cap means annular portion and terminating at an outer diametrical dimension exceeding the inner diameter of said tank flange, said tab means being insertable downwardly through said flange openings and below the level of said tank flange, means for rotating said cap means with said tab means below the level of said tank flange to cause said tab means to be positioned between said opening edge portion and the uninterrupted parts of said tank flange at said first position of the cap means.

2. The sprayer of claim 1, wherein said tab means are inclined and extend upwardly relative to said cap means annular portion.

3. The sprayer of claim 1, and including a plurality of lipped parts spaced above said tank flange, each lipped part overlying an opening in said tank flange, the spacing between each lipped part and the plane of the upper surface of said tank flange being sufficient to permit the sideway entry of said tab means therebetween upon rotation of said cap means whereby said tab means-are positioned over openings in said tank flange.

4. The sprayer of claim 1 wherein said tab means is insertable vertically downward through said flange opening and below the level of said tank flange.

5. The sprayer of claim 1, wherein the marginal portion of said seal is in underlying contact with said cap means annular portion in both first and second positions of said cap means and is sufficiently flexible to remain in contact with saidannular portion as said cap means moves from its first into its second position.

6. The sprayer of claim 5, wherein said cap means annular portion includes an upwardly extending annular web and a flange extending laterally outwardly from the upper edge of said web, said seal including means for mounting its said marginal portion to the opening edge portion of said tank, said tab :means connected to said cap means flange, said cap means flange supported by said opening edge portion when said tank is at atmospheric pressure.

7. The sprayer of claim 6, wherein the marginal portion of said seal is in a downward flexed position when engaged by said cap annular portion and said tank is at atmospheric pressure. 

1. In a sprayer including a tank having an upper wall with an opening therein and a removable pump assembly carried by said tank wall and having parts extending downwardly through said opening into said tank, the improvement wherein said opening is defined by an edge portion, said tank wall including a flange spacedly overlying said opening edge portion, a flexible seal carried by said opening edge portion and including a generally annular marginal portion extending outwardly from said opening edge portion into said opening, said pump assembly including cap means for sealing said tank opening, said cap means having parts positioned between said opening edge portion and said tank flange and being rotatable relative to said tank into a first position spaced from said tank flange and in circumferential engagement with said seal when said tank is at atmospheric pressure, stop means preventing unlimited rotation of said cap means relative to said tank for locating said cap means in its said first position, said cap means having a second position abutting said tank flange in circumferential sealing engagement with said seal when said tank is pressurized, said cap means being shiftable from its first position into its second position upon actuation of said pump assembly parts to pressurize said tank, said tank flange being Annular and interrupted by a plurality of openings, said cap means including an annular portion in circumferential engagement with said seal in both said first and second positions, the inner diameter of said tank flange exceeding the outer diameter of said cap means annular portion, said cap means parts constituting circumferentially spaced tab means extending outwardly of said cap means annular portion and terminating at an outer diametrical dimension exceeding the inner diameter of said tank flange, said tab means being insertable downwardly through said flange openings and below the level of said tank flange, means for rotating said cap means with said tab means below the level of said tank flange to cause said tab means to be positioned between said opening edge portion and the uninterrupted parts of said tank flange at said first position of the cap means.
 2. The sprayer of claim 1, wherein said tab means are inclined and extend upwardly relative to said cap means annular portion.
 3. The sprayer of claim 1, and including a plurality of lipped parts spaced above said tank flange, each lipped part overlying an opening in said tank flange, the spacing between each lipped part and the plane of the upper surface of said tank flange being sufficient to permit the sideway entry of said tab means therebetween upon rotation of said cap means whereby said tab means are positioned over openings in said tank flange.
 4. The sprayer of claim 1 wherein said tab means is insertable vertically downward through said flange opening and below the level of said tank flange.
 5. The sprayer of claim 1, wherein the marginal portion of said seal is in underlying contact with said cap means annular portion in both first and second positions of said cap means and is sufficiently flexible to remain in contact with said annular portion as said cap means moves from its first into its second position.
 6. The sprayer of claim 5, wherein said cap means annular portion includes an upwardly extending annular web and a flange extending laterally outwardly from the upper edge of said web, said seal including means for mounting its said marginal portion to the opening edge portion of said tank, said tab means connected to said cap means flange, said cap means flange supported by said opening edge portion when said tank is at atmospheric pressure.
 7. The sprayer of claim 6, wherein the marginal portion of said seal is in a downward flexed position when engaged by said cap annular portion and said tank is at atmospheric pressure. 